Uncategorized

Marcus Smart, Rudy Gobert engage in philosophical debate about Defensive Player of the Year

Published

2 years ago

March 31, 2022

This year’s Defensive Player of the Year race is ostensibly about one question — who has been the best defender in the NBA? — but making a pick requires engaging with several others. How many missed games is enough to disqualify a candidate? Is on-ball defense as important as off-ball defense? What are individual defensive statistics and team-impact metrics actually telling us? Among the Boston Celtics‘ many excellent defenders, who is most responsible for them looking invincible for a couple of months?

One philosophical question, though, has become central to the discussion: Bigs or perimeter players?

At one extreme, the argument goes: No matter how sturdy, savvy and switchable a guard might be, he can’t affect the game the same way that a dominant rim protector can. Rudy Gobert, a three-time DPOY, doesn’t just block shots and change shots, he deters them. Marcus Smart can never anchor a defense and cover for teammates’ mistakes the same way Gobert does every night. Perimeter players are technically eligible for the award, but as long as Gobert (or someone like him) exists, they shouldn’t be taken seriously.

At the other extreme, the argument goes: Today’s game is about versatility, and the winner of this award should reflect that. Gobert is phenomenal at what he does, but the Utah Jazz will continue to fail in the playoffs as long as they keep funneling everything toward him instead of replacing their weak links. Teams with elite pull-up shooters will target Gobert in the pick-and-roll, and teams that play 5-out will simply park the player he’s guarding in the corner. Nobody’s going at Smart, who is essentially a 6-foot-4 version of Draymond Green, blowing up actions all over the floor. If Green has missed too many games, then this is Smart’s year.

Usually, the people having this debate are dorks on the internet. But what if I told you that Gobert and Smart themselves have entered the chat?

Here’s Gobert, via ESPN’s Tim Bontemps:

“I think small ball impacts who has the most impact on their team,” Gobert said before his Jazz faced the Celtics on March 23.
“There’s a lot of very good guards, very good defensive guards. … It can be hard, sometimes, for people to understand, but when I come into the game, I’m worried about the team. I think sometimes we get too focused on the individual matchup.”
…
Advertisement

“As a big,” Gobert said, “you can impact multiple players at a time. As a guard, it’s harder to do that.”

And here, from that same story, is Smart’s counter-argument:

“Let’s think about it,” Smart said. “As a guard, especially on the team that switches a lot, especially on the No. 1 defensive team, you are worried about every single player. And here’s the thing: When you see Defensive Player of the Year, that means he can guard all five spots.
“Nothing against Rudy, but Rudy can’t guard all five spots. I can guard all five spots and I have been doing it. I’ve done it very well.”
…
Said Smart: “I mean, if we’re looking at just simple impact, [perimeter players] definitely should be in any kind of conversation when it comes to that award.”
Advertisement

My takeaway, as a dork on the internet: All-NBA defenders, they’re just like us!

But seriously, if you have a vote for this award, I have a message for you: Please try not to think of Gobert vs. Smart as a grand philosophical choice, if only because framing it as such diminishes both players. Gobert has much more mobility and scheme versatility than the extreme version of this argument would suggest, and Smart’s anticipation and communication are just as valuable to Boston’s team defense as his ability to pester people at the point of attack.

And if you’d like to split the difference, pick Bam Adebayo.

Source link

Related Topics:debate defensive engage Gobert Marcus philosophical player Rudy Smart Year

Up Next

Avalanche loaning defenceman Bowen Byram to AHL for conditioning stint

Don't Miss

Bruce Arians set up Todd Bowles for success I SPEAK FOR YOURSELF

Click to comment

Uncategorized

Patriots Veteran Makes Honest Admission About Bill Belichick

Published

43 seconds ago

December 5, 2023

nigemord@gmail.com

(Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty Images)

For many years, New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was the closest thing the NFL had to an untouchable head coach.

Together with legendary quarterback Tom Brady, he won six Super Bowl championships and was considered to be on the same pantheon as coaching legends such as Vince Lombardi, Bill Walsh, and Don Shula.

But in his fourth season without Brady, Belichick is struggling more than ever, as his team holds a 2-10 record after Sunday’s 6-0 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, and many feel he isn’t quite as great a coach as he seemed years ago.

But veteran wide receiver and special teams legend Matthew Slater, one of the Patriots’ last links to their dynastic teams, says Belichick is the same coach he’s always been, per Mike Reiss.

Question: From what you have seen behind the scenes with Coach Belichick, is it the same as it’s been?

Matthew Slater: “To me, it is. No one on this roster has more experience playing for Coach than I do. I’ve seen a great deal of consistency from him — his preparation, his… pic.twitter.com/LxdVlG1BZE
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) December 4, 2023

Belichick gained a reputation over the years as a master tactician, especially on the defensive side of the football, and while the Patriots haven’t been that bad defensively, their offense has been downright offensive.

They rank 28th in total yards, 29th in passing touchdowns, and last in points, and while quarterback Mac Jones has been benched multiple times and has struggled overall, it isn’t all his fault.

New England simply lacks reliable skill players at multiple positions, and in fact, some have pointed the finger at Belichick, who is the team’s de facto general manager, for that deficiency.

There have been plenty of rumors that Belichick’s job could be in jeopardy or that he could simply decide to either retire or move on to another team at the conclusion of this season.

The post Patriots Veteran Makes Honest Admission About Bill Belichick appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source link

Uncategorized

Texans HC Makes His Thoughts Clear On Facing Robert Saleh

Published

5 mins ago

December 5, 2023

nigemord@gmail.com

(Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

The Houston Texans have been having quite a season thanks to the play of rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, and they hold a 7-5 record, which puts them in the hunt for a playoff spot.

Not too shabby for a team that was 3-13-1 last season and was only expected to do marginally better this year.

They have what would seem to be a very winnable game this Sunday at the New York Jets, and it will mean a reunion between Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans and Jets head man Robert Saleh.

Ryans gave credit to Saleh for helping him get to where he is, per Ari Meirov.

#Texans HC DeMeco Ryans on facing Robert Saleh and the #Jets this week:
"I owe a lot to him. He's probably the reason why I'm standing here before you because of him taking me under his wing and teaching me the ropes."
Saleh coached Ryans as a player in Houston and helped hire… pic.twitter.com/rbMcw4RXZc
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 4, 2023
Advertisement

Back in the day, Ryans was a standout linebacker in the NFL, and he played much of his career for the Texans back when they were a fledgling expansion franchise.

After his playing career ended, he joined the San Francisco 49ers in 2017 as a defensive quality control coach under head coach Kyle Shanahan.

At the time, Saleh was the Niners’ defensive coordinator, and along with Ryans and Shanahan, he helped the team develop an identity as a hard-hitting defensive-minded squad.

Saleh and Ryans helped the Niners reach the Super Bowl during the 2019 season, and when Saleh left after the 2020 campaign, Ryans succeeded him as defensive coordinator.

Under Ryans, San Francisco’s defense only got better, and even without him this year, it has maintained most, if not all, of its prowess and bite.

While Ryans’ Texans aren’t a defensive juggernaut this season, they have greatly improved in that area compared to last year, and as a result, the outlook in Houston is suddenly very sunny.

The post Texans HC Makes His Thoughts Clear On Facing Robert Saleh appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source link

Uncategorized

NFL Analyst Claims 2 Non-QBs Deserve ‘Serious MVP Consideration’

Published

9 mins ago

December 5, 2023

nigemord@gmail.com

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The NFL MVP award is almost exclusively an award for players at the quarterback position, which is, without a doubt, the most important position on the field at all times.

Even though the award is given to quarterbacks more often than not, the 2023 NFL season might be a bit different, with no quarterback in the league being the obvious choice to win the regular-season award.

Fortunately, there are two players at other skill positions who are having MVP-caliber seasons, with Christian McCaffrey having an incredible season in his first full year with the San Francisco 49ers and Tyreek Hill putting on a show as the best player for the Miami Dolphins.

Despite the obvious MVP cases for Brock Purdy and Tua Tagovailoa, who are definitely in the running to win the award, there’s no way either player is half as good without McCaffrey and Hill, respectively, helping shoulder the load offensively.

Ross Tucker of CBS Sports makes the case that McCaffrey and Hill should be in the running for MVP, via “The Jim Rome Show.”

.@RossTuckerNFL on why Tyreek Hill and Christian McCaffrey both deserve serious MVP consideration. pic.twitter.com/SBELyLSeaV
— Jim Rome (@jimrome) December 4, 2023

At this point, it remains uncertain if McCaffrey and Hill can do enough to be put ahead of MVP candidates like Purdy, Jalen Hurts, and Dak Prescott with only a few games left in the regular season.

There’s no question that these two superstars at running back and wide receiver should be in the conversation, but only time will tell if they’ll ultimately get serious consideration when the time comes to put it to a vote.

The post NFL Analyst Claims 2 Non-QBs Deserve ‘Serious MVP Consideration’ appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source link